Scientists have found viral RNA in the ice in Siberia, along the
major flight paths of migrating waterfowl. They believe that frozen
viruses could potentially become the source of new epidemics that sicken
and kill generations after they were last seen; and with the spread of
the H5N1 avian influenza, there are serious reasons for concern.

Approximately 200 million birds have died or have been slaughtered
worldwide due to the bird flu and migrating birds are looked at as
culprit for its transmittal. More studies are planned to be conducted in
Greenland and Canada.